Image Forming Apparatus for Printing a Plurality of Logical Pages, Image Forming Apparatus Control Method, and Storage Medium

1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a first processor configured to convert input print data into an intermediate code; a second processor which is different from the first processor and configured to convert the print data into the intermediate code; a determination unit configured to determine whether a Nup layout in which a plurality of logical pages is printed on one sheet is set to the print data; and a prediction unit configured to predict a time necessary for the first processor to convert print data on the plurality of logical pages to be printed on a first print sheet into intermediate code if it is determined that the Nup layout is set by the determination unit, wherein if the time predicted by the prediction unit is longer than a time that the image forming apparatus prints one print sheet, the first processor converts print data of a predetermined logical page to be printed on the first print sheet into the intermediate code and the second processor converts print data on a logical page other than the predetermined logical page to be printed on the first print sheet into the intermediate code, and if the time predicted by the prediction unit is shorter than the time that the image forming apparatus prints one print sheet, the first processor converts print data on the plurality of logical pages to be printed on the first print sheet into the intermediate code and the second processor converts print data on the plurality of logical pages to be printed on a second print sheet into the intermediate code.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a difference between the time necessary for the first processor to convert the print data on the predetermined logical page to be printed on the first print sheet into the intermediate code and a time necessary for the second processor to convert the print data on the logical page other than the predetermined logical page to be printed on the first print sheet into the intermediate code is small.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: in a case where the first processor converts the print data on the predetermined logical page to be printed on the first print sheet into the intermediate code and the second processor converts the print data on the logical page other than the predetermined logical page to be printed on the first print sheet into the intermediate code, a drawing unit configured to start drawing processing based on the intermediate code generated by the first processor without waiting for the second processor to complete converting the print data into the intermediate code if a size of the intermediate code converted by the first processor is equal to or larger than a threshold value, and to start drawing processing based on the intermediate code generated by the second processor if conversion of the print data is completed by the second processor and the intermediate code is generated; a raster image combination unit configured to combine a first raster image drawn based on the intermediate code generated by the first processor and a second raster image drawn based on the intermediate code generated by the second processor if drawing processing by the drawing unit is completed; and a print engine configured to execute output based on the raster image combined by the combination unit.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate code combination unit configured to predict a remaining time necessary for the second processor to complete converting the print data into the intermediate code if the first processor completes converting the print data into the intermediate code, to wait for completion of conversion into the intermediate code by the second processor without drawing the intermediate code converted by the first processor if the predicted remaining time is equal to or smaller than a threshold value, and to combine the intermediate code converted by the first processor and the intermediate code converted by the second processor when conversion into the intermediate code by the second processor is completed.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, if the Nup layout is set on the print data and a stamp is also set thereon, either processor which completes converting the print data on the logical page into the intermediate code in advance between the first processor and the second processor converts print data of the stamp into an intermediate code.

6. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus, the method comprising: causing a first processor to convert input print data into an intermediate code; causing a second processor which is different from the first processor to convert the print data into the intermediate code; causing a determination unit to determine whether a Nup layout in which a plurality of logical pages is printed on one sheet is set to the print data; causing a prediction unit to predict a time necessary for the first processor to convert print data on the plurality of logical pages to be printed on a first print sheet into intermediate code if it is determined that the Nup layout is set by the determination unit; if the time predicted by the prediction unit is longer than a time that the image forming apparatus prints one print sheet, causing the first processor to convert print data of a predetermined logical page to be printed on the first print sheet into the intermediate code and causing the second processor to convert print data on a logical page other than the predetermined logical page to be printed on the first print sheet into the intermediate code; and if the time predicted by the prediction unit is shorter than the time that the image forming apparatus prints one print sheet, causing the first processor to convert print data on the plurality of logical pages to be printed on the first print sheet into the intermediate code and causing the second processor to convert print data on the plurality of logical pages to be printed on a second print sheet into the intermediate code.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recording a program for causing a computer to execute a method for controlling an image forming apparatus, the method comprising: causing a first processor to convert input print data into an intermediate code; causing a second processor which is different from the first processor to convert the print data into the intermediate code; causing a determination unit to determine whether a Nup layout in which a plurality of logical pages is printed on one sheet is set to the print data; causing a prediction unit to predict a time necessary for the first processor to convert print data on the plurality of logical pages to be printed on a first print sheet into intermediate code if it is determined that the Nup layout is set by the determination unit; if the time predicted by the prediction unit is longer than a time that the image forming apparatus prints one print sheet, causing the first processor to convert print data of a predetermined logical page to be printed on the first print sheet into the intermediate code and causing the second processor to convert print data on a logical page other than the predetermined logical page to be printed on the first print sheet into the intermediate code; and if the time predicted by the prediction unit is shorter than the time that the image forming apparatus prints one print sheet, causing the first processor to convert print data on the plurality of logical pages to be printed on the first print sheet into the intermediate code and causing the second processor to convert print data on the plurality of logical pages to be printed on a second print sheet into the intermediate code.